Ski bike



April 13, 1965 s. F. COLACE SKI BIKE Filed larch 3, 1964 United StatesPatent 3,178,196 SKI BlKE Gino F. Colace, 212 Richland Ave., Mansfield,Ohio Filed Mar. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 349,048 4 Ciairns. (Cl. 280-16) Theinvention relates to vehicles for use u on ski slides and similarplaces, and more particularly to a vehicle having a frame generallysimilar to that of a bicycle, and provided with short skis front andrear in place of the usual bicycle wheels.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a ski bike comprising aframe having an upright steering post journalled in its forward portionwith a short ski attached to the lower end of the steering post andhandle bars attached to the upper end thereof, and a second skisupporting the rear end of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski bike of thecharacter referred to in which the skis are pivotally connected uponsubstantially horizontal pivots.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a ski bike in whichthe rear ski is also attached to the frame through an upright postjournalled in the frame, and links connect the steering post and saidrear post for steering the rear ski also with the handle bars.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ski bike of thischaracter in which a shock absorber is interposed between the steeringpost and the front ski.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski bike of thecharacter referred to in which a seat is mounted on the frame by shockabsorber means.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be attained by constructing the improved ski bike in the'rnannerhereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ski bike embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ski bike shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional elevation of the front portion of theframe showing the steering post and shock absorber connecting the frontski thereto; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a simplified form of the invention inwhich only the front ski is adapted to be steered.

Reference is now made more particularly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to3, which illustrate a preferred or deluxe form of the ski bike to whichthe invention pertains, in which both the front and rear skis aresteered by means of the handle bars.

The frame for the device shown in these figures in preferably formed ofmetal tubing and comprises the downwardly and slightly forwardlyinclined front member 1, the top member 2 and bottom member 3.

The top member 2 is welded or otherwise rigidly connected at its forwardend to the upper portion of the front member 1, as indicated at 4, andis of generally curved shape. As best shown in FIG. 1, the top member 2extends rearwardly and slightly upwardly from the point of connection 4,and is then curved more sharply downwardly and rearwardly, as indicatedat 5.

The lower rear end of the frame member 2 is rigidly connected to theupper end of the larger diameter, relatively short, straight tubularmember 6, which is preferably downwardly and slightly forwardlyinclined, as shown in PEG. 1.

The lower frame member 3 is preferably straight, as shown in FIG. 1, theforward end thereof being welded, or otherwise rigidly connected to thelower portion of the front member 1, as indicated at 7, and the rear end3,178,195 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 thereof being connected in a similarmanner to the lower portion of the rear tubular member 6, as shown at 8.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the lower frame member 3 is preferablyrearwardly and slightly downwardlyinclined from the point 7, where it isconnected to the front member 1, to the point 8 where it is connected tothe rear member 6.

Although the tubular portion 6 is referred to above as a rear framemember rigidly attached to the lower, rear, downwardly curved end of thetop frame memher 2, it will be obvious that it may be an integral,preferably slightly enlarged, lower end portion of the member 2.

A steering post 9 is located through the tubular front member 1, andjournalled in the upper and lower bearings 19 and 11 respectivelytherein. These bearings may be of any usual and well known construction,being preferably anti-friction type bearings such as' roller hearings orball bearings.

Handle bars 12, such as are commonly used on bicycle, or the equivalentthereof, are fixed to the upper end of the steering post 9, as indicatedat 13.

The cylinder 14 of a usual and well known type of shock absorber isconnected at its upper end to the lower end of the steering post 9, asindicated at 15 in FIG. 3, so that the cylinder 14 may be rotatedaxially by turning of the handle bars 12.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the plunger 16 of the shock absorber islongitudinally slidable within the cylinder 14, and is prevented fromrotating relative to the cylinder by any suitable means, as indicated at17, whereby the plunger 16 may be rotated axially by the handle bars.

A ski 18 is attached to the lower end of the shock absorber plunger 16.This ski is comparatively short and provided with the usual tapered,upwardly curved tip 19 at its forward end. The ski 18 is preferablyattached to the plunger 16 in such manner that it may pivot around asubstantially horizontal axis relative to said plunger.

For this purpose, an attaching plate 215 may be connected to the upperside of the ski 18, intermediate the ends thereof, as by screws 21 ortheir equivalents.

Bearing portions 22 are shown formed upon, or connected to, the upperside of the attaching plate 20, and the lower end of the plunger 16 ispivotally connected thereto as by the bolt 23.

The upper portion of the rear post 24 is journalled in the tubular rearmember 6, in any usual and well known manner, and a rear ski 25 isconnected to the lower end thereof in the same manner as the front ski,by means of the attaching plate with bearings 22' and pivot bolt 23'.Thus, the rear ski may swing around a horizontal axis relative to thepost 24. The rear ski 25 is of similar construction to the front ski 18,but preferably somewhat longer, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A seat or saddle 26 is located upon the rear upper portion of the topframe member 2. The forward end of the seat 26 may rest upon the top ofthe frame member 2, the rear end thereof being connected to the upperend of the cylinder portion 27 of a shock absorber of conventionalconstruction.

The plunger 28 of the shock absorber is longitudinally slidable throughthe lower end of the cylinder 27, and the lower end of said plunger ispivotally connected, as at 2?, to the bracket 30 mounted upon the rearcurve portion 5 of the upper frame member 2.

Foot rest means 31 is provided upon the rear portion of the lower framemember 3, in convenient position for a person sitting upon the seat 26to place his feet thereon when riding on the ski bike.

For the purpose of causing the rear ski 25 to be properly steered inunison with the front ski 18, by turning of the handle bars 12, suitablelinkage is provided. This linkage comprises the similar links 32 and 33,which are crossed relative to each other, as shown in the drawings. Theforward ends of these links are pivotally connected to opposite sides ofthe shock absorber cylinder 14, and the rear ends thereof are pivotallyconnected to the other sides of the rear post 24.

For this purpose, ears 34 may be formed upon, or attached to, oppositesides of the cylinder 14, and the forward ends of the links 32 and 33may be pivotally connected to said ears, as by the pivot pins 35. Inlike manner, cars 34' may be formed upon or attached to .opposite sidesof the rear post 24, and the rear ends of the links 32 and 33 may bepivotally connected thereto as by the pivot pins 35.

With this construction, when the handle bars 12 are manipulated to turnthe front ski 18 in either direction, through the pivotally attachedlinks 32 and 33, the rear ski 25 will be turned in the proper direction.to track after the front ski 18.

In FIG. 4 is shown a somewhat simplified, less expensive embodiment ofthe invention, in which the rear ski 'is not arranged to be steered.Otherwise, the construction of this embodiment 'is quite similar to thatshown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The frame comprises the downwardly and slightly forwardly inclinedtubular front member 1a, the top memher 211 and the bottom member 3:1.The front member 1:: maybe the same as the front member 1 abovedescribed and illustrated in detail.

The top member 2a is attached at its forward end to the upper portion ofthe front member 1a, and is curved rearwardly and slightly upwardly fromthe point of connection 4a, and is then curved more sharply downwardlyand rearwardly, as indicated at 5a.

The lower frame member 3a is preferably straight, as shown in FIG. 4,the forward end thereof being connected to the lower portion of thefront member in, as indicated at 7:1, and the rear end thereof beingwelded or otherwise rigidly connected to the lower end of the downwardlycurved portion 5a .of the member 2a.

The steering post 9a may be the same as'the steering post 9 abovedescribed and shown in detail in FIG. 3, and may be attached to thecylinder 14;: of the shock absorber in the manner disclosed in detailabove.

Handle bars 120 are attached to the upper end of the steering post 9afor turning the same to steer the ski bike. The plunger 16a of the shockabsorber is 1ongi tudinally slidable within the cylinder 14a, thereof,as above disclosed with reference to FIG. 3.

The front ski 18a is pivotally connected to the lower end of the plunger16a, as indicated at 22a, in the manner disclosed above in the otherembodiment of the invention.

The rear ski 25a is pivotally connected to the rear lower end of themember 2:1, as indicated at 22a, by pivot means such as disclosed indetail above.

The seat 260 is located upon the rear upper portion of the top framemember 2a. The forward end of the seat may rest upon the top of theframe member 2a, the rear end thereof being connected by a dependingbracket 36 to one end of the rubber shock absorber 37, the other end ofwhich is connected to the bracket 38 mounted upon the frame member 2a.

Foot rest means 31a is provided upon the rear portion of the lower framemember 3a, in convenient position for a person sitting upon the seat 26ato place his feet thereon.

The ski bike shown in FIG. 4 may be operated in the same manner as thatshown in FIGS. 1-3, with the exception that the rear ski 25a cannot besteered to track after the front ski. However, the front ski may besteered by the handle bars in the same manner as that shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 1'3 and the two embodiments of the invention areotherwise substantially similar.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchWords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and usefulconstruction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ski bike comprising a-frame consisting of a forwardly anddownwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at itsforward end to the upper end of the front member and being curvedslightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, therear end thereof being inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, and astraight lower member connected at opposite ends to the lower ends ofthe front member and top member, a steering post journalled in saidfront member, steering means on the upper end of the steering post, afront ski connected to the lower end of the steering post, a rear skiconnected to the rear end of the top member, each ski being pivoted upona substantially horizontal axis, a seat having its front end restingupon the top member, shock absorber means located substantially abovethe pivot point of the rear ski and connecting the rear end of the seatto the top frame member, and foot rest means on said lower member at apoint near its connection to the top member, whereby the Weight of arider is concentrated near the pivotal point of the rear ski.

2. A ski bike comprising a frame consisting of a forwardly anddownwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at itsforward end to the upper end of the front member and being curvedslightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, therear end thereof being inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, and astraight lower member connected at opposite ends to the lower ends ofthe front member and top member, a steering post journalled in saidfront member, steering means on the upper end of the steering post, afront ski connected to the lower end of the steering post, a rear skiconnected to the rear end of the top member, each ski being pivoted upona substantially horizontal axis, a seat having its front end restingupon the top member, shock absorber means located substantially abovethe pivot point of the rear ski and connecting the rear end of the seatto the top frame member, said shock absorber comprising an uprightbracket upon said top member, a depending bracket at the rear end of theseat, and a rubber block having opposite sides connected to saidbrackets, and foot rest means on said lower member at a point near itsconnection to the top member, whereby the weight of a rider isconcentrated near the pivotal point of the rear ski.

3. A ski bike comprising a frame consisting of a forwardly anddownwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at itsforward end to the upper end of the front member and being curvedslightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, atubular member connected to the rear end thereof, said tubular memberbeing inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, a rear post journalledin said tubular member, and a straight lower member connected atopposite ends to the lower ends of the front member and top member, asteering post journalled in said front member, steering means on theupper end of the steering post, a front ski connected to the lower endof the steering post, a rear ski connected to the lower end of said rearpost, each ski being pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis, aseat having its front end resting upon the top member, shock absorbermeans located substantially above the pivot point of the rear ski andconnecting the rear end of the seat to the top frame member, and footrest means on said lower member at a point near its connection to thetop member, whereby the weight of a rider is concentrated near thepivotal point of the rear ski, oppositely disposed ears upon thesteering post and the rear post, and crossed links pivotally connectedat opposite ends to said ears so as to cause the rear ski to track afterthe front ski.

4. A ski bike comprising a frame consisting of a forwardly anddownwardly inclined tubular front member, a top member connected at itsforward end to the upper end of the front member and being curvedslightly upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly and rearwardly, atubular member connected to the rear end thereof, said tubular memberbeing inclined downwardly and slightly forwardly, a rear post journalledin said tubular member, and a straight lower member connected atopposite ends to the lower ends of the front member and top member, asteering post journalled in said front member, steering means on theupper end of the steering post, a front ski connected to the lower endof the steering post, a rear ski connected to the lower end of said rearpost, each ski being pivoted upon a substantially horizontal axis, aseat having its front end resting upon the top member, shock absorbermeans located substantially above the pivot point of the rear ski andconnecting the rear end of the seat to the top frame member, said shockabsorber comprising an upright bracket upon said top member, a dependingbracket at the rear end of the seat, and a rubber block having oppositesides connected to said brackets, and foot rest means on said lowermember at a point near its connection to the top member, whereby theweight of a rider is concentrated near the pivotal point of the rearski, oppositely disposed ears upon the steering post and the rear post,and crossed links pivotally connected at opposite ends to said ears soas to cause the rear ski to track after the front ski.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,415 7/04Beulin. 1,318,747 10/19 Gross 28016 1,809,295 6/ 31 Gundersen 280-162,273,869 2/42 Julien 267-1 2,756,016 7/ 5 6 Painter 267-1 FOREIGNPATENTS 108,258 8/43 Sweden. 206,002 1/09 Germany.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

1. A SKI BIKE COMPRISING A FRAME CONSISTING OF A FORWARDLY ANDDOWNWARDLY INCLINED TUBULAR FRONT MEMBER, A TOP MEMBER CONNECTED AT ITSFORWARD END TO THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT MEMBER AND BEING CURVEDSLIGHTLY UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AND THEN DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, THEREAR END THEREOF BEING INCLINED DOWNWARDLY AND SLIGHTLY FORWARDLY, AND ASTRAIGHT LOWER MEMBER CONNECTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE LOWER ENDS OFTHE FRONT MEMBER AND TOP MEMBER, A STEERING POST JOURNALLED IN SAIDFRONT MEMBER, STEERING MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF THE STEERING POST, AFRONT SKI CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING POST, A REAR SKICONNECTED TO THE REAR END OF THE TOP MEMBER, EACH SKI BEING PIVOTED UPONA SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, A SEAT HAVING ITS FRONT END RESTINGUPON THE TOP MEMBER, SHOCK ABSORBER MEANS LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVETHE PIVOT POINT OF THE REAR SKI AND CONNECTING THE REAR END OF THE SEATTO THE TOP FRAME MEMBER, AND FOOT REST MEANS ON SAID LOWER MEMBER AT APOINT NEAR ITS CONNECTION TO THE TOP MEMBER, WHEREBY THE WEIGHT OF ARIDER IS CONCENTRATED NEAR THE PIVOTAL POINT OF THE REAR SKI.